Boat attachment



June 2, 1936.

J. w. HARVEY BOAT ATTACHMENT Filed July 19, 1934 4- Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR JAMES W. H R

VEY',

June 2, 1936. J. w. HARVEY BOAT ATTACHMENT Filed July 19, 19:54

4 Sheets-Sheet I ATT EY INVENTOR JAMES W. HARVE June 2, 1936. w H2,042,598

BOAT ATTACHMENT Filed July 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gun Illllh All! ggia 5/; 5/; r

Imunw INVENTOR JAMES W. HARVEY,

June 2, 1936. J w H 2,042,598.

BOAT ATTACHMENT Filed July 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JA rrEs W.H 'RVEY,

Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

My invention relates to attachments for small boats such as canoes.

One object is to provide means for supporting a canoe when taken out ofthe water so that it can readily be rolled along the ground whendesired.

A special object is to provide folding wheels which can be used tosupport the boat on the ground or folded inside of the boat when theboat is-in the water. For this purpose I provide a special type ofbracket adapted to be secured to the rail of the boat. This bracket isprovided with a double hinge connection and supports a wheel fork. Twoof these brackets are fastened on opposite sides of the boatandconnected together by a cross-piece for reinforcing the construction. 1

A special form of this bracket is designed for attachment to a pointedstern of a boat for supporting an outboard motor in such a way that themotor can be either folded inside the boat when not in use or foldedoutside to propelthe boat.

In connection with this form. of bracket I have arranged means forpreventing the water from splashing from the motor shaft into the boat.

Another modification of the bracket is adapted to support a leeboardover the side of the ,boat in such a way that it may be folded insidethe boat when desired.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a canoe with road gear involving my inventionand also showing one form of bracket supporting an'outboard motor inside"the boat. This figure also shows in dot and dash lines the position ofthe wheels when folded inside the boat.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a larger scale showing one of the railbrackets.

Fig. 4 is an. edge view of the same showing the rail of the boat and apart of the wheel fork and rim.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the plates for securing the bracket tothe rail and side of the boat.

23 of the bracket. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the block for.

supporting the motor and the deflector plate attached to it.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the latch employed in thedevice of Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 is a front view of a modified form of 5 construction forsupporting a wheel fork over the side of a boat.

Fig. 14 is an edge view of the fork.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the plane of the line |5-l5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 13.

The boat may be of any design but the invention isprimarily intended foruse in connection with small double ended boats and canoes which usuallyhave reinforced rails 20. For use in traveling overland I provide wheels2|, 2| which are carried by forks 22.

Each fork is supported by a bracket which includes means for securing itto the rail of the 20 boat and a pair of hinges which makes it possibleto foldthe wheel into the boat for traveling in the water and out of thewater for traveling on the land. Base plate 23 of the bracket issuitably designed to rest on the top of the rail of the boat 25 andprovided with elongated slots 24, 24 to facilitate attachment to therail at different angles.

A reinforcing plate 25 is secured to the side of the boat by belts orrivets 26 and to the rail by bolts 2'! passing through lugs 28 so as torein- 30 force the rail and side of the boat at the point where thebracket is to be attached. The ends of the base plate 23 are bolted tothe lugs 29 of the side plate by bolts which pass through the elongatedslots 24 and 30.

The base plate 23 has upstanding flanges 3| which support the horizontalshaft 32. A hub 33 is supported on this shaft between the flanges 3|, 3|and has a passage 34 for the shaft 35'which is secured to the gooseneck36 at-the upper end of 40 the fork 22. This fork and its gooseneck'aresecured in place by the nut 31 on the end of the shaft 35. In theposition shown the hub member 33 is in such a position as to bring thepassage 34 for the shaft 35 beneath the shaft 32.

By taking the hub 33 off and turning it over the passage 34 can bebrought above the shaft 32 so as to raise the shaft 35 and the wheelfork to a higher level.

The vertical arm of the gooseneck 36 has a lat- 50 eral projection 38which in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 fits between the flanges39 which project outwardly and downwardly from the plate A locking pin40 extends through these flanges and through the opposite projection 36so as to hold the fork in place with the wheel in the road position.With the pin 40 pulled out the fork is released so that the fork and itswheel may be swung outwardly about the axis of the shaft 32. When theprojection 38 is cleared from the flanges 39 the gooseneck of the forkmay be swung about the axis of the shaft 35 so that the wheel and forkcan be swung over inside of the boat into the dot and dash positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to stiffen and reinforce the boat and the brackets, Ipreferably provide a cross-bar 41 which connects the twooppositelydisposed wheel supporting brackets. This cross-piece may be made of twoslotted parts connected together by bolts 42 so as to adapt theattachment to boats of varying widths. The ends of the cross-piece 4|are bolted to the inner extensions 43 which are provided with extensionsfrom the flanges 3i previously described.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the device can be readily attachedto a boat or detached when desired. It is especially useful in takinglong trips on which it is frequently necessary to carry the boatoverland. When the boat is in the water, of course the wheels are swunginside the boat and when the boat is to be carried on the land thewheels are swung out over the sides. In this position the boat can betowed by hand or behind a vehicle. In the latter case a towingattachment 44 may be desirable at one end of the boat.

In case it should be desired to additionally reinforce the apparatus Imay provide a strap 45 which can be passed around beneath the bottom ofthe boat and have its end secured to anchorage portions 46 carried bythe opposite forks as shown in Fig. 4. By tightening up on this strapall the loose play can be taken up and the strain of the load thuspartly borne by the strap beneath the the wheel fork 22 and the part 48corresponds with the vertical part'of the gooseneck 3B of Fig. 4. Withsuch a construction the leeboard can be moved inside or outside of theboat as desired.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the base plate 50 is of U-shape inplan view and is provided with the slotted portions 5| and 52 forattachment to the rail of the boat. This base plate 50 correspondsgenerally to the base plate 23 previously described but has an extensionarm 53 which extends across the boat and has an anchorage portion 54adapted to be secured to the opposite side by means of a suitable boltor a clamp. This may also have an extension arm 55 with a terminalanchorage portion 56 to provide a fourth point of suspension whendesired. v

As this form of device is intended to be secured near one end of theboat for the attachment of an outboard motor 51, it is shaped toapproximate the tapered endof the boat and the part 53 is tiltedupwardly to conform to the conventional shape of the end of a boat.

The motor may be of any type driven either by a gas engine orelectrically. Such motors are provided with conventional clampingdevices which are usually attached to the transom of a boat. In thepresent instance, I provide a blockilwhich corresponds with a transom ofthe boat and the motor is attached in the usual way to tions. The inneredge 15' ofxthe plate this block instead of to the transom. To preventthe motor from jumping off the block in case the usual clamp boltsbecome loose, I provide a projecting ledge 61 along the front upper edge0 the block.

This block is reinforced by an outer plate 62 and an inner plate 63, thelatter being a part which is preferably cast integral with the hub 64.This hub has a shaft 65 which corresponds with the shaft 35 of thedevice shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shaft 65 is rotatably supported in abearing 66 which itself is rotatably supported by a shaft 61 whichextends through the flanges 68, 68 which project upwardly from the baseplate 50. The hub 64 has a projection arm 69 which is adapted to fitbetween the flanges 10 and 1| which extend downwardly from the flanges68, 68 and outwardly from'the edge of the base plate. The latch bolt 12is supported in a flange 1i and provided with a finger piece 13. Aspring 14 .nor-

mally presses the bolt 12 into the path of movement of the part 69. Theedge of the part 69 and the tip of the bolt 12 are preferably roundedoff or beveled so that when the block 60 with the attached motor isdropped downward into the outboard position the bolt will automaticallybe retracted to allow the part 69 to pass. The spring 14 then thruststhe bolt back into its locking position so as to hold the motor down.

The body of the bracket is provided with an abutment shoulder 15 againstwhich the weight of the block 6|] and attached motor rests on account ofthe weight being offset from the axis of the shaft 65 when the motor andthe propeller are outside of the canoe.

The flange 11 extends further laterally from the side of the boat thanthe flange 10 so that when the block 60 and attached motor is swungabout its horizontal transverse axis the arm 69 will slide along theedge of the flange 10 and strike To prevent this I'provide a deflectoror splash' plate 16 which is arranged to extend rearwardly of the motorshaft about on the level with the lower edge of the block 60. This plateis preferably adjustable so as to enable its inner edge to.

be adjusted into contact with the side of the boat. For this purposepart 63 of the supporting attachment is provided with a lug 11 to whichthe plate 16 is adapted to be secured by a bolt 18. The plate 16 isprovided with an elongated slot 19 so that the plate may be moved in andout with respect to the side of the boat as well as swung about thevertical pivot 18. To ensure a tight joint between the inner edge of theplate 16 and the side 01' the boat without scratching the boat I mayprovide a soft rubber bumper in the form of a split tube secured on theedge 8| of the plate in any suitable manner.

It is understood of course that the base plate 50 and the extensions 53and 55 may be detachably secured to the boat in any suitable manner. Bymaking this compound base plate of U-shape as shown inFig. 9 I providesuflicient clearance to permit the motor to be swung inboard as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 making due allowance for the gas tank, carbureter andwiring and pipe connec- 50 serves as an abutment to support the arm 89and the attached motor when the motor is swung inside of the boat. Inorder to put the motor into operation it is simply necessary to lift itand swing it outboard around the axes of the shafts 65 and 61.

In the forms shown in Figs. 13 to 16, fork 82 is somewhat different fromthe fork 22 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and the upper ends are secured in ahead 83 which is provided with a split tubular extension 84 adjustablysecured on the cross-bar 85 so that the fork can be slid along thecrossbar 85 and also rotated about it when the bolt 85 is loosened. Thebase plate 81 which is adapted to be secured to the rail of the boat hasan inward extension 88 and a bearing 89 for supporting the cross-bar 85.

The plate 81 may have downwardly projecting flanges 90 corresponding tothe flanges 39 in Figs.

' 4 and 6. The member 8| carried by the head 83 of the fork projectsbetween the flanges 98 to assist in holding the parts in operativeposition. It will be seen that this form of construction omits thelongitudinal-axis of the folding brackets previously described butpermits the fork to be released, then slid outward along the bar 85 andthen swung upward to clear the rail of the boat and then s id inwardlyalong the bar 85 so that the fork can then be let down into the boataccomplishing a similar effect to that of the device of Figs. 1 to 4 butin a difierent manner.

I claim:

1. A bracket of the character described having a base plate adapted toattachment to a boat ra l at various angles, flanges projecting upwardlytransversely to the rail, outwardly and downwardly projecting sideflanges with an abutment between them, a bearing member pivoted betweenthe upwardly projecting flanges to rotate on an axis extendinglongitudinally of the rail, an arm pivoted in the bearing member on anaxis at right angles to the axis of the bearing member and adapted torest against said abutment between the side flanges and a latch forholding said arm between said side flanges.

2. A bracket of the character described having a U-shaped base plateadapted to attachment to oppositely disposed parts of a boat-rail,flanges projecting upwardly transversely to one arm of the plate,outwardly and downwardly projecting ,side flanges with an abutmentbetween them, a

bearing member pivoted between the upwardly projecting flanges to rotateon an axis extending longitudinally of the rail and an arm pivoted inthe bearing member on an axis at right angles to the axis of the bearingmember and adapted to rest against said abutment between the sideflanges.

3. An attachment for supporting a motor from the rails of a boatcomprising a U-shaped base plate having four points of attachment to therails, and a motor block having a double jointed connection with oneside of the base plate permitting the block with motor attached to beswung over the side of the boat or inside of the boat, the space betweenthe sides of the base plate receiving the motor when it is swunginboard.

4. A motor boat attachment comprising a base plate having two spacedpoints for attachment to the rail of a boat, two flanges projectingupwardly between said attachment points, a bearing rotatably supportedbetween said flanges, a motorsupporting block having an arm at one edgerotatably supported by said bearing on an axis at right angles to theaxis of said bearing, a latch for holding the block in its outboardposition, said base plate having an arm extending transversely from oneof the points of attachment across the boat and having a point forattachment to the oppositerail opposite one of the first two mentionedpoints of attachment, said arm being offset so as to allow space for theinboard swinging of the motor.

5. An outboard motor attachment comprising a bracket for mounting on arail of a boat, a supporting block projecting laterally and downwardlyfrom said bracket and a splash deflector plate pivotally carried by saidattachment and adapted to be adjusted against the side of the boat.

6. An outboard motor attachment comprising a bracket for mounting on arail of a boat, a supporting block projecting laterally and downwardlyfrom said bracket and a splash deflector plate adjustably secured to theblock and having a rubber edge member for contact with the-side of theboat. V

7. An outboard motor attachment for the side of a canoe comprising abracket having means for attachment to the rail of the canoe and meansfor supporting a motor having a vertically extending shaft alongsidethecanoe, and a splash deflector plate movably carried by said bracket andadjustable laterally to fit the side of the canoe in rear of the motorshaft.

8. A' bracket for attachment to the side of a boat comprising a plate,means for attaching its opposite ends to the rail of a boat, said platehaving depending flanges extending outwardly from the edge of saidplate, a shaft universally supported by the plate and extendinglaterally beyond the side of the boat, a supporting member dependingfrom said shaft and adapted to be moved inboard'of the boat and havingan arm adapted to fit between said flanges and a latch carried by one ofsaid flanges for interlocking with said arm to hold the supportingmember in its outboard position.-

'9. A bracket for attachment to the side of a boat comprising a platehaving upstanding lugs for mounting on the side rail of the boat, a hubhinged between said lugs with its axis substantially parallel with theside of the boat, a shaft pivotally carried by said hub, with its axisat substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the boat, asupport carried by said shaft including an arm adapted to depend overthe side of the boat when the support is in one position and adapted tobe swung inwardly, said plate having an abutment shoulder as its outeredge for supporting the weight of the movable parts when in the outboardposition and having an abutment at its inner edge to support the movableparts when swung into its inboard position.

10. A supporting bracket for attachment to the side of a boat comprisinga plate, means for attaching said plate to the side rail of a boat, lugsprojecting upwardly from said plate over the rail, a hub pivoted betweensaid lugs, a shaft pivoted to said hub on an axis at right angles to itsaxis of the hub, a supporting member carried by said shaft, saidsupporting member and said base plate having interlocking parts to holdthe supporting member in place in its outboard position, said supportingmember being adapted to swing on a longitudinal axis and on an axis atright angles to the longitudinal axis to bring it inside the boatalongside the inner surface thereof. 7

11. A supporting bracket comprising a plate for attachment to the siderail of a boat and having two flanges spaced apart from each other toI - stantially right angles to the axis of the hub and a supportingmember carried by said shaft and having means adapted to engage saidlatch and retract it when the supporting member is moved overboard andthe said means slides over the flange opposite said latch, said latchautomatically interlocking with said means when the supporting member isreleased and the said means is moved between said flanges.

12. A bracket for supporting an outboard motor at one side of a canoecomprising a base plate having means for attaching its front and rearends to the rail of a canoe, a cross bar having one end connected to therear end of the base plate and having means for attaching its oppositeend to the rail of the canoe opposite the rear attaching meansof thebase plate, a bearing hub rotatably supported above the base platebetween its ends, a transverse shaft pivoted in the bearing hub, a motorsupporting member carried by said shaft and movable into and out of thecanoe with the motor, means in addition to the shaft K and bearing hubfor assisting in supporting the motor in its outboard position, thecentral part of the cross bar being offset from its ends to permit themotor to be folded inwardly into the canoe. f

13. An outboard motor attachment for the side of a canoe comprising abase plate having means for attaching it to a canoe rail, an upwardlyprojecting lug over said rail, 9. bearing hub hinged to said lug on anaxis extending. fore and aft the I canoe, ashaft carried rotatably bysaid hub with of the boat having means for supporting said member on theopposite side rails and having a part depending from one end to extendover one side rail and flangesextending laterally of the boat and spacedapart longitudinally of the boat with an abutment between the flanges, ablock adapted to serve as a transom for the support of an outboard motorand means for rotatably supporting the block from the transverse member,said block having a portion normally positioned between the said flangesand resting against said abutment when the motor is in normal runningposition and adapted to be swung inside ofthe boat. a

15.v A bracketlfor supporting an outboard mo tor at the side of a boatcomprising a plate having two spaced means for attachment to a boat andhaving a part depending from one side to extend over one rail andflanges extending laterally of the boat and spaced apartlongitudinallyof the boat and having an abutment, a block adapted toserve as a transom for the support of an outboard motor, means formovably supporting the block from said plate, said block having aportion normally positioned between the said flanges and resting againstsaid abutment when the motor is in normal running position and means forlocking the block with the motor in its running position. v

16. A bracket for supporting a motor over the side of a boat comprisinga frame member having means adapted to be secured to the side of a boatand having flanges extending laterally beyond one side rail of the boat,an arm pivotally supported by said frame on an axis longitudinally ofthe boat and having a laterally and downwardly extending transom plateto which an outboard motor is adapted to be attached, said arm having aportion adapted to drop down between the side flanges of the supportingframe when the motor is in runningposition.

17. A bracket for supporting an outboard motor at the side of a boatcomprising a plate having means for attachment to the side rail of aboat at two points spaced apart from each other along the rail, flangesprojecting laterally from said plate between the points of attachmentand beyond the rail, a block serving as a transom for attachment of anoutboard motor hinged to said plate above the rail on an axis extendingparallel to the length of the boat, said block having a part adapted toswing down between said flanges when the motor is in running position.said plate supporting the weight of the block and attached motor andsaid flanges holding. the motor supporting block from swinginglongitudinally when the block is engaged between said flanges.

18. A bracket for supporting a motor over the side of a boat comprisinga frame member adapted to be supported by the side of a boat and havingoutwardly. extending flanges beyond one side rail of the boat, anL-shaped arm for supporting an outboard motor, said arm having a portionnormally horizontal and supported bya part of the frame above the railswhen the motor is in running position, the arm having a dependingportion normally positioned between said flanges, means for securingsaid arm in place and a laterally projecting block having meansfor supporting an outboard motor. v

19. A bracket for supporting a; rotating member over the side of a boatcomprising a frame member having a side arm with at least two points ofsupport on a boat rail one of said points being spaced apart from theother along the rail, said framemember having a cross bar extendingacross the boat and provided with a point of supportonthe opposite railofthe boat, said side arm having projecting-flanges spaced apart fromeach other, a supporting member having a part adapte ed to extendbetween said flanges when in an outboard position, and means forsupporting said, member from the side arm in the outboard posi -tio'nand also in the-inboard position.

JAMES mm."

